Fed Officials Downplay Previous Negativity,
Signaling Rates May Stay Where They Are

By

Greg Ip Staff Reporter of The Wall Street Journal

Updated Jan. 21, 2002 12:27 a.m. ET

Is the Fed finished cutting rates?

Federal Reserve officials started the new year describing the economy as showing tentative signs of hitting bottom, but still facing numerous risks. Last week, in public and private they indicated the markets may have read too much pessimism into those remarks. In shifting their tone, the officials appeared to signal that they are leaning toward not cutting rates at the end of the month, but also may...